Match Page 2017-18 - Lineups WP: 135

Match Page 2017-18 - Match Data WP: 140

Match Page 2017-18 - Timeline WP:139

Match Page 2017-18 - Timeline WP:139

Match Page 2017-18 - Match Data WP: 140

Ospreys Festive Endeavour Rewarded

jmcconnell22 Dec 2004

Llanelli Scarlets had the better of the opening exchanges and after just 12 minutes Ospreys prop Andrew Millward received a yellow card for swinging arm at a ruck, but the home side didn’t concede a point whilst he was off the pitch and on his return Gavin Henson put the first points on the board with a penalty kick followed up a couple of minutes later with his second successful attempt.

However the first try of the day came courtesy of a Llanelli Scarlets line-out. The ball was scrambled back to hooker Robyn McBryde who picked up at the front of the line and charged through unopposed before passing on to Jonathan Mills to touch down. Bowen’s conversion gave Scarlets the lead – but not for long.

Ospreys immediately launched a brilliant counter attack; from a loose ball Shane Williams jinked through tacklers breaking the gain line before linking with his forwards allowing captain Barry Williams to score. Henson missed the conversion, for the game to turn round 11-7 in favour of the home side.

Ospreys were on the attack from the start of the second half, Scarlets couldn’t gather the kick-off handing Ospreys the ball; scrum half Jason Spice created a gap for Shane Williams to go through.

The Neath-Swansea side’s third try saw James Bater finish off the move he started with a catch at a line-out, Barry Williams came close to a second try before Bater picked up and went over.

And a sparky period midway through second half ended with Scarlets lock Chris Wyatt being the second player sent to the sin bin. Ospreys, looking for the bonus point, went for the line out from the resulting penalty, their forwards were held up just short before the ball was recycled, man of the match Shane Williams collecting his second try of the day. Matt Jones, who shared the kicking duties with Henson, added the final points with his conversion.